Thermohydrometer



Oct. 12, 1943. L. EDELMANN THERMOHYDROMETER 4 Fiied July 19, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 1 nnnnn In Oct. 12, 1943.

L. EDELMANN THERMOHYDROMETER s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1941llllnunnunll 0C1; 12, 1943. EDELMANN 7 2,331,542

THERMOHYDROMETER Filed July 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 u-IHN PatentedOct. 12,1943

TIQOFFII E THERMOHYDRODIETER Leo Edelmann, Chicagoplll. H 7 7Application July 19, 1941;5811131 403217 8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in thermohydrometers; andparticularly to devices of this character such as are used in testingradiator solutions, and in other connections where it is desired toobtain a reading or indication based upon specific gravitycharacteristics of a liquid solution at the exact temperature of thequantity of solution being tested.

' The primary object of this invention is to provide an instrument thatcan be used without specialized skill or intricate or criticaladjustments,'and which will give a direct reading of specific gravity orother characteristics of the testquantity of liquid, with fullcompensation and'correetion for variations in temperature and at theexact temperature of the particular test quantity of liquid at theinstant the test is being made.

' Still another purpose is to so construct the instrument and the partsthereof that only a single movable part is required to be manipulated toa position or setting readily ascertained by a glance at the specificgravity indicating means and the exact information or reading orindication desired to be determined is then particularly it pointed toand designated and identified by the temperature influenced means orparts.

A further object of this invention is to provide a thermohydrometerinstrument of this character that can be used for testing two or moreliquid.

solutions having different specific gravity characteristics, and withwhich a high degree of accuracy is attainable. Still another purpose isto provide a thermohydrometer instrument for testing two or moresolutions of different characteristics, together with indicating meanstaking into account specifie gravity and temperature characteristics ofthe particular test quantity of solution, and with the parts soconstructed and indicated or desig- 40 nated that the user will at aglance be immediately informed as to the particular float and (01. 265f46) In the drawings? "l Figure 1 is. afviejw in perspective showing anadaptation of my invention in athermohydrometer x. l

5 Fig. 2 isan enlarged 'v er'tical sectional View through the lower partof-the instrument cut substantially at right'angles to the showing inFigure/ill. L.

' Fig. 3 isa' horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-'3of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

- Fig. 5 is an enlargediragmentary sectional Fig. -7 is a'flattened out.elevationalview showing the correction or sheet.

or indicating or .data chart Fig.8 is afiattened out view showing theupper indicating scaleofthe hydrometer float element. Fig. -9 is aviewtsimilar to Fig; 8 showing the lowerscale of the float element. Fig.10 is a fragmentarysectional view of the lower partof amodifiedconstruction of instrument.

An outer. case I,

closuremember 2, anda supporting base member 3is mounted within thecasing structure as thus provided. This supporting base member has a .;liquid;chamber 4 cast, cored, bored, or otherwise- ,formed therein, and;a liquid inlet. ni ple 5 is ,.fturned into a threaded opening 6communicating with this liquid chamber 4, or is otherwise assembledewithits o uter end' available to receive a liquid suction and discharge hoseor'tube or nozzle' 1."

The supporting base member has'a float housing tubular member [mountedand supported thereon and extending upwardly substantially axiallywithin the case If] A closure plug 9, of rubber or other suitablematerial, is mounted within the housing 8' adjacent the lower endthereof and is provided with a connecting opening l0 having a liquid,passage'il extending therefrom to openv throughthe top of the plug intocommunication'with the interior of the housing 5,0 tube'8. Thesupporting base member" 3 isprovided with is. connecting nipple 1'2which has a passageway l3 extendingtherefrom 'and communicating with theliquid chamber 4; at 'a' point upward from the bottom thereoflf I I Aconnecting'sleeve l4of'relativelylarger diwhich isnperhaps preferably a.substantially cylindrical tube; has a bottom tween the end of the barrel[6 and the shoulder l5, and an annular clamp ring l9 having a sleeveupstanding rim flange be provided at 32.

portion thereof externally screw threaded to fit lower end of the barrell6. This annular connecting nut I! has at its lower end an inturnedflange 20 which will bear against the outturned bead portion ll of theliquid barrel [6 and will clamp the gasket [8 in liquid-tight packingbetweenthe shoulder and the end of the liquid barrel It. The transparentliquid barrel IE will ordinarily ,be made, of glass or other frangiblematerial, and a cushion ring 2!, of soft cushion rubberor other suitablematerial, and havingits lower part of tapered thickness, is forcedintothe space between the liquid barrel l6 and the bore of the clampnut lfladiacent to its outer end. The annular packing nut 19, has an outwardlydisposed flange portion 22 around its upper end, and this flange portionis preferably knurled or .milled, ,onits outer; peripheral face so thatit can be bettergrasped and held for manual tightening and loosening.

With the partslconstructed and assembled in the manner set forth, thetransparent barrel portion 16 islassembled substantially axially .aboveand in liquid-tight connection with thetubular floathousingd, andtheconnecting nipple por- 'tion l2 establishes direct communication fromthe liquid chamber 4itorthe interior of the. housing 8 and thetransparent barrel IS. A float element 23 has the bu1b'portion-24thereof made of a diameter to permit free and unrestricted movementaxially within the housing portion 8, and yet the fit issufllcientlyclose that the float element 23willbe held against and prevented from'tilting sothat' the indicatingstem 25 thereof will not come intocontact with the transparent barrel IS. The plug '9 is preferablycrowned on its upper end and with the opening of the passage II at oneside away from the center the float element 23 can come to a-cushionedrest upon the plug 9 and the opening of the passage II willbee-completely unobstructed at all times.

A thermometer 26, here shown as being of the capillary tube type, hasthe tube thereof fitted throughafiplug 21, of rubber or other suitablematerial, and this plug isinserted and fitted into the upper end of thebore forming the liquid chamber 4 so that the chamber is closed orsealed except for the'liquid openings through passage B and throughnipple 5, In this mounting, the temperature influenced or responsivebulb portion 28 0if'the thermometer 26 is disposed sub- ,stantially,centrally jwithin the chamber 4 intermediate the passage [3 and thenipple 5, and consequently'this portion willb'e directly exposed ndsubjected to and will be influenced by the temperature of ai testquantity of liquid drawn into the tubular'housing 8 and the barrel H5,through the nozzle 1, mem 5, chamber 4, passage is, and'bassage n.To'create'the desired suction to draw the test quantity of liquid intothe instrument, a suction bulb 29 is here illustrated as being mountedat the upper end of the barrel l6.

So that the indicating portion of the thermometer 26 can be viewed bythe user, I provide an opening 38 through one side of the tubular casingportion I, and the indicating column 3| of the thermometer is freely andclearly visible through this opening 30.

The tubular casing l has an inwardly projecting or extending flangeportion 31 carried at the top thereof, and it is perhaps preferable thatan A setting knob 33 is provided with a central opening of suff cientsize to revolubly fit over and receive the connecting sleeve portion l4,a bearing flange being preferably provided at 34. Further, this settingknob 33, which is preferably knurled or milled or oth rwise roughened tofacilitate grasping and rotation, as shown at 35, has an out- Wardlyextending skirt flange 3e adapted to fit and bear at its outer undersideagainjst metop ,of the flange 31 and withit lthe upstanding flangeportion 32. A data carrying and display sleeve '31, of substantiallytubular formation, depends from the setting knobs; within the casing Ito be thus rotatably disposed with its surface exposed to beviewedthroiighthe opening 30, in

between the underside of the shoulder '22 of the annular clamp nutIQfjazi'd the top ofthe setting knob 33 so that the flange portiohttwill be held in frictional contact with tl'ieflarige'portion 3| of thecasing l and this mounting serves to retain the tubular scale or indiciadisplay portion 31in predetermined depending. relation and. againstshifting or movement axially. Atthe'same'tim'e,

the frictional engagement ofthe flange portions ,36 and 3! will hold thesetting knob 33 and the sleeve 3? against casualand accidentalrotational displacementiron desired and adjusted settings.

To further insure against shifting or twisting movement of the tubularportion 31 that might lead to inaccurate results, a bearing portion 39is mounted'around the float housing rnember 8 and a bearing flange ll}disposed inwardly at the lower extremity of the tubular portion 31 isrevolubly centered by this bearing 39.

The sleeve portion 3'1 has on the outer face or surface thereofxmarkings,or indicia of the charactershown in Fig.7, and here there are twoseparate scales, and in the. present instance I have shown this as asheet M; to be adhesively or otherwise secured upon the'outer surface ofthe clepending'and revoluble sleeve 31,,with the horizontal indicationsor markings at 42 disposed in predeterminedrelatien with respect to theparticular thermometer 26 and the indicating column 35 thereof.Obviously, themarlzings can be printed, lithographed, or can beotherwisedirectly applied to or can'be'placed or'displayed upon thesleeve 3'? in any'desired and approved manner. In the present instance Ihave shown 2,331,542 lighterthan water and ethylene glycol solutions areheavier than water, it is necessary that-the indicating stem 25 of thespecific gravity float element 23 carry separate scales, as indicated at45 and 4S,these scales 45 and '45 suitable for use with the charts ordata 43 and 44 respectively being shown as flattened out in Figs. 8 and9; T To protect the parts within the casing I, it is perhaps preferablethat a piece of transparent material 47 be mounted over the viewingopening 30, and in the present instance I have shown this transparentmember 41 as mounted behind the opening and held in place by clips48*and 49, and with a'shield member 53 extending behind the'indicatingportion of the thermometer 26 so that the indications 'on' the cylinder31 immediately behind the thermometer will not be visible to obscure orconfuse a reading of the indicating column 3!.

In the use of my improved instrument, the nozzle 1 has its end insertedinto the liquid to be tested, and as the suction bulb 29 is squeezed andthen released the liquid will be drawn through the nozzle l and nippleinto the liquid chamber 4 where the temperature influenced bulb 28 ofthe thermometer 25 will be completely submerged in the liquid and willbe affected by the temperature of the test quantity ofliquid. Thesuction draws the liquid through the liquid chamber 4 and passages l3and II and into the float housing 8 andthe liquid barrel It to asufficient height for flotation of the float element 23 so that a testfor specific gravity reading or indication can be taken.

Assuming that a test is being made of a radiator solution containingmethanol, the scale 45 on the indicating stem 25 of the fioatelement 23will be used, and assuming that the element rides or floats with theliquid level on the indication B, the setting dial 33 is manipulated torevolve the sleeve 37 so that the column B of the scale 43 is exposedthrough the window opening of the case l, immediately adjacent to theindicating portion of the thermometer-26, as illustrated in Figure 1.Then, a direct reading can be taken of the figure or indicationimmediately in line with the top of the indicating column 3| and as inthe present instance and with the markings on the scale in freezingtemperatures of a particular methanol antifreeze solution as used in 'anautomobile radiator, this direct reading shows that the particularsolution will freeze at 24-degrees above zero, Fahrenheit. Should thespecific gravity element 23 float or'ride with the liquid level at J onthe upper's cale, it is only necessary to rotate the setting knob 33so'that the sleeve 31 will be revolved to expose the letter J at thelower end of the window opening 30, and then the indications for theparticular strength of solution will be presented to be read directly inline with the top of the indicating column 3|. In viewing the figures inthe column J it will be noted that zero point is shown with some figuresindicating temperatures above and others below zero Fahrenheit, and inactual practice it has been found desirable and advantageous to printfigures below zero in a distinctive color, as for example with thefigures above zero shown in black and with the flguresbelow zero printedor otherwise shown in red.

In some instances it will be seen that the figures as printed on thechart are not consecu-- tive, but that the space is hardly sufficientfor showing of all numerals in chronological order;

and, a study of the chart markings will show that where the divisionsthe thus small these have be'en marked off intermediate the numberdivisions and in consequence a very accurate and close reading chart isprovided with the user able to read in exact consecutive'degrees andvwith greater accuracy than with thermohydrometers as-heretoforeconstructed and available.

A-s*indicated'bythe lining on the charts 43 and45,the'correspondingindicating portions of the float element and on the sleeve 31 can bedistinctively colored, 'as for example in-shades or tints of yellow,pink, green, or'can be otherwise designated so that the user willimmediately distinguish and know just what part of the data carried bythe sleeve 31 should be brought into view 'for the particular effectiveportion of the float element In the present instance the in'- strumentis available for testing solutions of op-:

posite characteristics, and'if the scales 44 and 46 be shown on a whitebackground and the scales 43 and 45 be shown on a correspondinglycolored background, the user will have immediately and instantlyindication of the correction scales to be used one against thev other.Also, with this instrument the indicating portion 25 of the floatelement is in the same field of vision with the indicating column 3| andthe exposed part of the cylinder 31, and consequently quick and accuratereadings can be taken and there willbe no possibility of confusion. dueto necessity for noting two or more differentindications and then crossreading the one against the other. On the contrary, it is only necessarythat the usernote the particular letter or designation on the float stem.25-at the liquid level within the transparent barrel l6, and then byrotating the knob, 33 and consequently the sleeve 31' to exposethe samedesignating chart at the bottom of the, window opening 30 the effectivefigures or indications are immediately available directly adjacent tothe top of the liquid column 3| so that direct readings can be taken.

While the. gauge. stem 25 of the float element I will ordinarily bereadily visible due to the transparency of the liquid barrel I 6, insome places and uses it may be found desirable to provide illuminationfor the indicating portions of thethere mometer and for the effectiveindications or data on the sleeves? as disposedfor viewing through theopening 30, and in Fig. 10 I have shown a modified construction in whicha light bulb 5| is disposed within the casing I and one side of theopening 30 so that the light rays therefromwill illuminate theindicating portion of the thermometer 26 and that side of the sleeve 31visible through the opening 38, for better reading of the particularfigure or designation on the sleeve 3'! as designated by the indicatingcolumn 3L This light bulb can be conveniently supplied with current fromcells or batteries within a casing 52, and can be controlled by anysuitable switch or other means 53. V The showing in Fig. 10 is intendedto be only illustrative, and it will be appreciated that lightingstructure to illuminate parts shown through the opening 30 can beconstructed and embodied in'many different ways. With the partsconstructed in the manner set forth the sleeve 31 can have more than twosep arate charts printed or shown thereon, and if greater peripheralarea be required this can be readily accomplished by increasing thediameter of the parts, still without enlarging the casing to a point ofbeing clumsy or objectionable. Furtherythe outer surface of the casing Ibeing of smooth cylindrical forrmoflers-a usable and very convenientspace for printing or: displaying advertising or radiator capacitycharts, or in fact-any matter that it may be desired to display.

,While I have herein shownand described only certain specificembodiments .andadaptations; :of my invention, for particular liquidsolutionsgand have suggested only certain possible modifications in formand use, it will be appreciated that many changes and variations canbe-made; in the; form, construction, and arrangements of theparts,;-andin the manner of. associatingand using the same, without departingfrom-the spirit and scope ,of my invention.

I claim:

l. A thermohydrometer ;comprising a "liquid and float barrel structure,acylindrical:casing,v a supporting base member within said casing havinga test liquid intake and discharge passage communicating with the liquidandtfloatbarrel, said casing having anoopening through one side thereof,a, thermometer carried by said support.- ing base member having atemperature influenced portionthereof in the liquid passage and'havingan indicating portion disposed to be visible through the opening of thecasing,.andacylindrical correction scale carrying sleeve revolublewithin the casing and with. a: portion of the surface thereof-exposedto-be viewedthrough "the opening of the casing and back of theindicating portion of the thermometer.

' '2. A thermohydrometer comprising :a liquid and float barrelstructure, a cylindrical vcasing, a supporting base member within saidcasing having atest liquid'intake and dischargepassage communicatingwith theliquidand float barrel, said casing having an opening throughone side thereof, a thermometer carried by said supportmg base memberhaving a temperature influenced portion thereof in the liquid passageand having an indicating portion disposed to be visible through theopening of thecasing, a cylindrical correction scale carrying sleeverevoluble within the casing and with alportion of the surface thereofexposed to be viewed through the opening of the casing and back of theindicating portion of the thermometer, and a float element inthe liquidand float receiving barrel having-indications thereon, said cylindricalsleeve having data thereon disposed in columns extending substantiallyparallel with thethermometer tube-and designated by indicationscorresponding toindications on the float element. I

3. A thermohydrometer comprising a liquid and float barrel structure, acylindrical casing, a supporting base member within said casing having atest liquid intake and discharge passage communicating with the liquidand float barrel, said casing having an opening through oneside thereof,a thermometer carried by said supporting base member having-atemperature influenced portion thereof in the liquidpassage and havingan indicating portion disposed to be visible through the Opening of thecasing, acylindrical correction'scale carrying sleeve revoluhle' withinthe casing and with aportion ofthe surface thereof exposed to be viewedthrough the, opening of thecasing and back of the indicating portion ofthe thermometer, a float element in the liquid and float receivingbarrel having indications thereon, said cylindrical sleeve having,datathereon disposed in columns extending substantially parallel withthe thermometertube and designated by indications .correspondinglto.indications on'the'float-element, and means for. manually rotating saidcylindertobring desired data thereon adjacent to the indicating portionof the thermometer.

4. A thermohydrometer comprising a liquid and float barrel;structure, acylindrical casing, a suporting base member within saidcasing having atest liquidqintake and discharge passage communicating with the liquidand float-barrel, said casing having an opening through one sidethereof, a thermometer carried by said support insibase member having atemperature influenced portion thereof in the liquid passage and havingan indicating portion disposed to be visible through the opening of thecasing..a cylindrical correction scale carrying sleeve revoluble withinthe casing and with a portion of the surface thereofexposed to be viewedthrough the opening of the casing and back of the indicating portion ofthe thermometer, and a float element in they liquid and float receivingbarrel having indications thereon, said cylindrical sleeve having datathereon disposed incolumn extending substantially parallel with thethermometer tube and designated by indications corresponding toindications on the float element, said float element being constructedfor testin liquid so utions of different characteristics and having theindicating portion thereof divided into scale portions relating to eachliquid solution and the cylindrical sleeve being'provided with separatecorrection scale portions for each particular solution, andcharacteristics identifying the particular scale on the float element tobe used with the particular scale on the cylindrical sleeve.

5. A thermo-correcting hydrometer comprising a liquid and floatreceiving barrel, a float element insaid barrel having gauge indicatingmarkings thereon, means to draw .a test quantity of liquid into saidbarrel,-a thermometer having a temperature responsive portion exposed tothe temperature of the test quantity of liquid and having an indicatingtube portion extending in upright relation, indicating scale carryingmeans movable transversely in a fixed path back of and adjacent to thethermometer tube and having temperature corrected indications thereon ina plurality of columns extending substantially parallel with the uprightindicating portion of the thermometer, said indicating scale carryingmeans having the upright vertical columns thereof marked to correspondwith indications of the floatelement and having the indications of eachcolumn calibrated to. a :condition of the test quantity of liquid at theparticular indication of the float and at various temperatures ofthesolution whereby when said scale carrying means is moved to bringaparticular column thereon as indicated by the float reading adjacent tothe thermometer tube a direct reading can be taken of the indication inthis column as directly designated at the top of the indicating columnof the thermometer.

6. A thermo-correcting hydrometer comprising a liquid and floatreceiving barrel having a base at the lower end thereof, means to draw atest quantity of liquid throughsaid base intosaid barrel, -,a floatelement in said barrel having a gauge stem .provided with indicatingmarkings, a thermometer carried by said base with atemperatureinfluenced portion exposed to the temperature of a test quantity of:liquid and having an indicating tube extending upwardly alongside of andspaced from said liquid barrel with an indicating column in said tube,an indicating ,scale carrying member movable behind and substantiallytransversely with respect to the upstanding tube of the thermometerhaving the indicating column therein, said scale carrying member havingdata thereon in vertical and horizontal columnar relation and having thevertical columns designated to correspond with indications on the gaugestem of the float element and having indications in such verticalcolumns calibrated to be read directly and immediately transversely fromthe indicating portion of the thermometer to give a reading corrected toa temperature resulting in the immediate height of the indicating columnof the thermometer with the particular float element reading.

'7. A thermo-correcting hydrometer comprising a liquid and floatreceiving barrel, 2. float element in said barrel having a gaug stemmarked with indications, means to draw a test quantity of liquid intosaid liquid and float barrel, a thermometer having a portion exposed tobe influenced by the temperature of the test quantity of liquid andhaving an upstanding indicating tube with an indicating column therein,a cylindrical sleeve revoluble back of and adjacent to the indicatingtube of the thermometer having thereon correction data arranged invertical columns corresponding to and designated by indications of thescale of the float element and with the indications at each elevationwithin the column calibrated to temperature corrections for particulartemperatures of the test quantity of liquid when the indicating columnof the thermometer tube is at a transversely level position andconsequently pointing to such corrected data.

8. A thermo-correcting hydrometer comprising an upright liquid and floatreceiving barrel structure, a specific gravity float in said barrelhaving a gauge stem provided with indicating markings, means to draw atest quantity of liquid into said liquid and float receiving barrel; athermometer having a temperature influenced portion exposed to thetemperature of a test quantity of liquid as taken into said barrel andhaving an upstanding indicating tube provided with a temperatureresponsive indicating column, a cylindrical sleeve housing around saidbarrel and thermometer having an upright opening through which theindieating portion of said thermometer is visible, and a cylindricalsleeve revoluble within said housing around said barrel and with theouter face thereof back of the thermometer indicating tube whereby saidsleeve is settable to bring a portion thereof alongside of theindicating tube of the thermometer to be viewed through the opening r ofthe housing adjacent to the indicating column, said revolublecylindrical sleeve having on the outer side thereof a plurality ofcolumns of indications with each column designated according to anindicating marking on the float gauge stem and with the indications ofeach column .cali- 'brated to compensate for temperature characteristicsof the test quantity of liquid at a liquid temperature as designated bythe top of the indicating column. i

LE'O EDELMANN.

